Power cable



April 22, 1930- w. l.l MIDDLETON y 1,755,930

M PowER CABLE Filed April 26, 1929' ATTORBLEYr Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE WASHINGTON IB'V'IN'G MIDDLETON, OF WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 SIMILEX 'WIRE AND CABLE COMPANY, 0F BOSTON, MASSAQHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OIE MASSACHUSETTS POWER CABLE Application nl ed April 28,

This invention relates to improvements in power cables. By power cables reference is intended to cables used for transmitting electric power, as currents of substantial ampera age, to electric power motors and similar power devices.

' This invention relates more particularly to an improved power cable adapted to be used, economically, under conditions peculiarlo ly severe limiting the utility of ordinary power cables. The improved power cabley of this invention is adapted to resist deterioration although submerged in oil or oil-water or oil-water-salt mixtures for indenite periods without being excessively bulky or heavy and without being prohibitively expensive. The improved cable of the invention is also adapted to minimize possible Aphysical damage even under extreme conditions.

While the improved power Vcable of this invention is suitable for many purposes, it is particularly adapted for use in connection with the pumping of oil from wells as now carried on by means of an electrically driven pump lowered through the well casing to the bottom of the well, where it remains in operation for indefinite periods. The power cable for the motor of such a pumping unit is necessarily subjected to severe conditions during its installation, and throughout its use it is continuously exposed to the action ofv the oil or oil mixture being-pumped. Oil causes rapid deterioration. of rubber and the usual rubber insulating compounds, as is well known, and this deterioration seems to be promoted by the presence of water or Vthe saline materials frequently occurring with oil, so that the problem of insulating the conductors of aA cable for this use involves peculiar diliiculties.- Also, since the conductors are connected to the motor leads `runder a substantial head of the oil, there is a tendency for the oil or oil mixture to enter the submerged end of the cable and to flow into the cable through the interstices between the conductors, with consequent internal deterioration of the cable. Further, such power cables must meet obvious requirements as to bulk and weight. A

The power cable of the present invention is 1929, Serial No. 358,227.

constructed for such uses, as that above-mentioned, and for various others, where insulation of the conductors and the protection of such insulation is difficult because of the conditions under which the cable is used. The improved cable of the invention is of small diameter and is light in weight, it is exible and, although a part of the insulation is made up of rubber, the rubber is effectively protected against deteriorationU through contact withdeteriorating liquids and against mechanical injury and the flow of su'ch liquids into the cable at exposed ends is prevented.

In the improved cable of the invention, the conductor or conductors are made up of cabled strands of copper, preferably tinned,

`and laid in such manner that there is a central strand and layers of other strands wrapped about it. The interstices between the strands are filled withrubber and the conductor itself is encased in a rubber sheath. Where the cable is made up of several conductors they are wrapped about one another in the usual way and enclosed in a sheath of rubber which fills all the intersticesV between the rubber sheaths on the individual conductors. Over the outside of the rubber sheath which encloses all the conductors is laid fabric insulation which may be in the form of tapes or braids or both, the fabric being impregnated and coated with an oil and water-proof lacquer. A lacquer` of the nitrocellulose type is well suited for this purpose. The lacquer is applied in such manner as to form a continuousl film over the fabric. A protective armor is then laid over the lacquer lm, this armor protecting the enclosed cable lelements from injury during handling, in-

, The cableA illustrated includes three lcon-- ductors vand is adapted for supplying power to a three-phase motor. The cable may be preferably tinned, the tin coating being designated 12. In forming these conductors, the central strand 13 is encased in a layer of unvulcanized rubber and then a row of strands 14 is wrapped about it helically. The laying of the conductors of the row 14 is carried on so that these conductors vbecome embedded in the soft unvulcanized rubberv layer enclosing the central strand and so that the rubber fills the interstices between the outside strands and the central strand. After the strands of the layer 14 are laid in place, another layer of unvulcanized rubber is placed about them and a third layer 15 of Y conductors is laid on the rubber in the same way. The rubber fills the interstices between the layers. The conductors made up of the several strands is non7 enclosed in an insulating sheath 16 of unvulcanized rubber. The composite conductor is now treated to vulcanize the rubber filling and'insulation.

In the cable illustrated, the three conductors with their rubber sheaths are cabled about a strand 17 covered with unvulcanized rubber and serving as an axial core. In this cabling operation the rubber core assumes the somewhat triangular shape illustrated-at 18 and entirely fills the space between the sheathsy of the three conductors. An outer sheath or jacket of unvulcanized rubber 19 is now applied to the cable and thereafter the cable isl treated to vulcanize the rubber in the core and jacket.

As a further insulation, layers of fabric are employed: in the construction illustrated there are two lavers of fabric tape 2O and 21 laid helically about the rubber sheath 19. The tape of each layer is applied so that the edges abut with the tapes in thel two layers out of registry. The tape used is preferably varnished` cambric and before it is laid the surface of the rubber sheath is coated with an oil and water-proof lacquer advantageously of the nitro-cellulose type. After a laver of tape is placed in position, another coating of lacquer is applied to it. Over the lacquer coating may be'applied further fabric insulation in the form of cotton braids 22 laid in the usual manner. are applied over the braid layer so that the rbraid is saturated with the lacquer, and over this lacquer film is preferably applied another layer of braid23, over'which further coatings layers of insulation is not only saturated with lacquer but there are lacquer coatmfrs under, over and between the several fabric plied around several conductors so that the One or more coats of lacquer of lacquer are applied. The fabric in these of a sheath of armor 24 which may conveniently take the form of a metallic tape, galvanizedsteel, aluminum, etc., laid in over-. lapping convolutions over the outer film of lacquer 23', the tape being formed so that the overlapping parts are locked together.

y It will be observed that in this cable the interstices between the conductors are completely filled with rubber and rubber is apentire center of the cable is filled. The rubber used is unvulcanized -when applied so that it may be readily shaped to fill the spaces which, it is intended to occupy. The rubber sheath which encloses the several conductors is protected by a plurality of layers of fabric impregnated with -lacquer and also vby a plurality of lacquer films. The lacquer protects the rubber against the action of oill and water from the outside and since the interior of the cable is filled with rubber, oil and water cannot migrate through the interior of the cable in the event vthat an end of the cable is exposed. Even though the 4rubber filling should be attacked at an exposed end of the cable, any deterioration of the insulation is so limited that the-cable will stand up for an indefinite period, whereas if the interior of the cable were not filled substantial quantities of oil and water might enter through an exposed end and thus bring about deterioration of the rubber insulation over substantial distances.

1. A power cable which comprises at least 10 a pair of conductors twisted around' one another nd each formed 'of cabled strands in layers, the interstices in each conductor being filled with rubber, a rubber sheath around the conductors, a layer of insulating fabric y over the rubber sheath, a continuous film of oil-proof lacquerv over the fabric, and a I sheath of armor over the film. I

2.. In a power cable, a plurality of conductors twisted helically about one another, each 11,10 conductor' being made up -of cabled strands with rubber filling the interstices between the strands, a rubber sheath about each conductor, a central cord about which the conductors are laid, a rubber filling about the 'v enclosing all the conductors and having portions' filling' the lspaces between the rubber sheaths on individual conductors. 3. An article of manufacture comprising a. plurality of electrically connected conducting strands cabled together to form a single electrical conductorin whichv the current passes in the same direction through all of the ,12.5 strands forming-the conductor, the interstices within the conductor beingv filled with rubber,

and a rubber sheath around the conductor.l 4. An article of manufacture comprising a plurality of electrically connected ,conducting strands disposed in layers and forming a 'slngle electrical conductor in which the cur- 5. An article of manufacture comprising a plurality of electrically connected conducting strands cabled together to forma single electrical conductor in which the current passes lin the same direction through all of the strands forming 'the conductor, the inten stices in the conductor being filled with rubber, a rubber sheath around the conductor,.a layer of insulated fabric over the sheath, a continuous film of oil-proof lacquer over the layer, and a sheath of armor over the film.

In testimony whereof I alix mv signature.

WASHINGTON IRVING MIDDLETON.

DISCLAIMER 1 755 930.-Wash on Irml atent dated gril 22, 19ng0. Disclaimer filed March 29, 1933, by the patentee, assignee, Simplex Wire cf: Gable Company, consentmg. v

Hereby enters this disclaimer to exclude from the scope of claimsv r1,f 2 3, 4, and 5 of said specification, cables and conductors m which the mtersti'ces within the conductors or between the strands of the conductors are filled'fwlth rrubber cement, varnish, lac uer, or filling compounds other than rubber or contamlng volatile solvents, an interstices Within the conductors or between the strands of theconductors are filled wilth rubber.

Qficial Gazette A pn'l 18, 1933.]

Middleton, Watertown, Mass. POWER CABLE.

to limit said claims specifically to cables and conductors in which the 

